Electric sign system



Oct 15, 1934- al. l. LEvENs'rElN 'Y 1,977,191

vEIJECTRIC SIGN SYSTEM Filed Aug. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR o@ I6; 1934- l. l. LEvENsTElN 1,977,1914

ELECTRIC SIGN SYSTEM Filed Aug. ,11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fnv/w f. Nfl/575m ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED siATistsv PATENT oFFIicE I Application August l1, 1932, Serial No. `628,360

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-117) *which are constructed in such form to be easily The present invention` relates to electric sign lsystems of the type employing the discharge of a high;` tension current through a gas contained in hermetically sealed glass tubes which are fashioned to form letters of the alphabet or diagrammatical representations, and in particular to sign systems of the class mentioned .embodying vautomatic switching devices designed to overcome `various objectionable diiliculties ordinarily 0 encountered in the operation of what are commonly known as neon tube electric signs.

' An object of my presentinvention is to provide novel `means for use in connection with electric signs of the character'described, adapted to automatically shunt, the terminals ofany lamp sec- `tionupon the breaking ofthe glass tube thereof, to permit operationof the, remainder of the sign.

Another object of this invention isto provide 4improved and novel means for' use in connection vith signs of the type mentioned,` adapted to au- Qtomatically open the primary circuit in the event `there shall occur abreak in the high tension circuit from any causewhatsoever.

' Another object of thisjinvention is to provide a novel and improved electric sign system of the 'character mentioned embodying means adapted automatically to insureithe continuity of the high tension circuit, e f

A further' object of my present invention is to provide an improved electric sign system of the type mentioned embodying a combination ofthe functions `herein mentioned.

Another object ofwiny invention is to provide novell automatic switching devices which are oplerable bythe action of hightension currents, and

adaptedfor use in connection with electric signs ofthe character mentioned. A'further object of this invention is to provide novel and improved means of the character mentv-tioned which is simple 'inconstruction, original "inits' mode of operation, kautomatic and certain inhitsaction, cheap to manufacture, and easy,

convenient and eiiicient to use.

`To attain these objects, I providein connection with electric sign` systems of the character men- .1tioned,` devices consisting essentially of a switch, wone element; of which `is held. drawn back `by ay taut fuse member .againsty the action of aspring, `and of an electrode mountedin spaced relation with said fuse wire member to `form a'spark gap therewith. N They operation` of such devices depends upon aH ,spark jumping the gap when there isa break in the high tension circuit, thereby causing the fuse member to melt and break, thus l releasing the switch element aforesaid, which thereupon will automatically be moved by action of the spring into rposition either to make or breaka'` circuit depending upon the switch construction and its hook-up in the system.

For instance, the gapumay be bridged across the terminals of a lamp tube unit, the `resistance of the gap being initially set to be a little greater than the resistance of saidptube unit. `In ordinary operation, the electric discharge of the high tension current will passi through the gas-filled tube 4until it sohappens that said glass tube breaks. Whereupon, a spark will jump the said gap and thus maintain continuity of the high tension circuit. The heat of the spark across Said gap will cause the fuse member to meltand break, whereupon the switch element becoming released will snap into contact with another switch element to cause a shunt of the terminals of the broken tube, thus maintaining continuity of operation of the sign until the broken tube can be replaced.

As another instance, the gap may be bridged across the high tension terminals of the transformer which is a component oi" such sign systems, while the switch elements of 'said device are4 interposed in the primary circuit and normally maintaining a closed circuit while the fuse element is intact. In such hook-up should a break occur anywhere in the high-tension circuit, it being remembered that initially the resistance of the gap is set to be a little greater than the resistance of the high tension circuit across which it is connected, a spark will jump the said gap causing the fuse element `to break whereupon the switch element originally held back against the action of ay spring, will automatically become released and move to its other extreme position thereby opening the primary circuit.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein` disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope lof the invention. 7

In the accompanying drawings,` forming a part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a acter VhereinV mentioned., adapted to open the' primary.v circuit rin the event of la. break in the high tension circuit. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing pictorially the outer appearance of contrivances otherwisev shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section through a sign, showing inV section an adapter to receive the contrivances shown in 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram or hook-upshowing an improved sign system of the class mentioned,

embodying means adapted to insure continuity ofv .the high tension circuit. Fig. 6 isa wiring diagram .showing an improved 'sgnxsystem oi the class mentioned, embodying meansadapted to` open y.the primary :circuit in the event. lof a break in the high tension'circuit.

f Eig. 7 is a wiring diagram showing an 'improved sign system of the type described, embodyingthefeatures of the systems aforesaid.

' Before entering .into the details of these :novel systems, AI will rst describe the automatic switching ldevicesupon which such systems depend.

.In the drawings., 'the .numeral Y15 designates a fmetalwa'sh'er which is .secured within` and inter- .mediate the ends of `a sleeve 16. The tubular elements 17 `and 18, which are or" insulating material, are demountably secured, one Within each end of the sleeve .16, up against the washer .15.

VAt the remote end of the tubular element- 17, is

secured a metal cap 19, in "which, through a central hole can pass a .fuse Wire `member 20 to lie .axially within the tubular element 17.

'Through the washer 15, is slidably mounted a 21, of insulating material, having its 'end -Whi'ch protrudes within the tubular element 17,

formed Ainto `an eye .22, about which is secured #one end of the fuse wire .20, and secured at Ythe other 'end `of said rod 2l, which lies Within the tubular element 18, is a metal switch 'element 23. A .spring :24, sets on the rod 21, between the washer 15, andthe switch 4element '23.- The outer end Aof the fus'ewire 20, is secured about a small screw 25., which is threadedly engaged in` the cap 19..

An electrode 26, is secured to the metal washer 15, to'lie Withinvt-he tubular element 17, and be in :spaced relation with the taut fuse Wire 20, -so as to form a spark gap therewith. In the set up cf the devicesshown in Fig. 1, and Figfz, the `.rod 2l is 'drawn into the tubular element 17, l

against the action of the spring 24; it being intended that upon the breaking of the fuse wire 20, ,in the event a spark is caused to jump the spark vgap aforesaid, that the switch element 23,

` be actuated into position either to make a circuit byvcoming in Contact with vthe cap asf, (in Fig. 1) secured at the remote end of the tubular'element 18,]or else, asin theset up in Fig. 2, to open a circuit lby causing a break betweenwthe metal spring straps .27 and 28. To provide a handle for "these devices, an insulating knob 29, is securedonto thecap 26.

Hereinafter, the cont-rivance shown .in Fig'. 1,

is 4generally Vdesignated by the numeral 30, and

,thatshown in Fig. 2, bythe .numeral A31.. `It is of sign'tube any particularrelectric signjof'the to be noted that in appearance, they are very similar to the common form of cartridge fuse, except for the middle sleeve 16.

In construction of the sign, I include adapters as shown in Fig. 4, which are comprised essentially of a porcelain tube 32, having a flange 33 at one end thereof, wherein screws 34 enter to mount the adapter onto the front side 35 of the sign '36., Within this tube 32, in spaced relation are mounted three -tube segments, namely, 37, to engagethe cap 19; 38, to engage the sleeve 16,V and 39, to engage the cap 26. Provision for mak- `ing electrical' connections to these three tube segments, is had at the terminal posts. designated by Vthenumeral 40. As to the oper-ation of my novel systems, I will rst set forth individual functions, and then a system of combined functions. Y

In the hook-up shown in Fig. 5, the sign ISBE'I of the class mentioned, is made up of ltwo -tube sections,v namely, IS andI BET. These sections are connected in' ser-ies across'th'eu high tension terminals of the transformer '4'.1. It

'is to be notedA that inthe contrivance 36, the switch lelement-23andthe cap 26', are to be together "considered asa switch, While the electrode' 26 and the fuse Wire 20, are as aforesaid', to Yact as Aa sparkgap. In this hook-up, the switchjelements 23 and 2'6"',jare respectively connectedV to the spark'gap elements 26and. 20,V andA they are respectively connected across the,V terminals of the tube section IS, VA second 'contrivance `30 is in lijke manner connected across the terminals of the lamp section BET". For as many sections class described may have, vso many of thefcon- `trivances '30 do Iconnect'up in the system. Holding vin mind that the resistance of the gap between elements 26 and 20 is alittle.y greater than the resistance rof the tubesection acrosswhichl 'it is connected, in thev normal operation of fthe sign, the discharge'of the current will be through the lamp tube section, unless the glass thereof becomes broken, whereupon the current will cause a spark to jump across the gap vaforesaid thereby .retaining continuity vof .the high tension circuit. .Howeven the heat of the spark will melt l and breakthe fuse Wire 20, whereupon the switch elements "2,3 and.. 26 will come into permanentcontact thereby shunti-ng the terminals or the broken tube section and thereby eiectively` insuring continuityof the high tension circuit permittingithe remainderof .the'sign to operate.

In thehook up shown in Fig. 6, I connect the-.1f-30 .spark gap. elements v'20 and 26, across the high tension terminals of the transformer 41.; .the-resistance of said spark gap being a little greater Vthan the resistance ci .the high tension lamp .cir-

cuit C O. `Interposed in the primary circuit is the switch comprising the spring 'straps 27- and 28 and the metal member 23 which .is normally in contact vwith Yboth said straps, thereby. maintaining a closed primary vcircuit until there occurs a breakin the high tension circuit, where-'f' upon thefuse wire element 20 will melt and break because of ya spark which will .jump the .gap in y:such instance, vand thereby the metal switch element 23 vin being released tomove, willdisengage from itscontact with the straps`2'7 and 28,'t'hus iopening the pr-imarycircuit. lConnect-ions t-o these vspring-straps are madeat thebinding posts-l2 and 43, respectivelytherefor provided, While metal elementZB isfinsulated from thewasher ,16 by an insulating washer '44, in order to keep'the1f50 v.switch elements electrically separate and apart from the spark gap elements. The fuse wire 20 may be replaced and the contrivances used again.

In the hook up shown in Fig. 7, I connect contrivances 30 across each of the lamp units of the system except one which is connected in combination with the contrivance 31. In the instance shown, the lamp sections IS and BET are each associated with contrivances 30, while the lamp section CO is associated with a contrivance 31. In this system, should either of the tubes break of the sections IS or BET, then such broken section would become shunted by the action of the contrivance 30 associated therewith, as heretofore explained, and should the glass of the tube section CO become broken, then by virtue ofthe operation of the contrivance 31 associated therewith, the primary circuit of the system would be opened. Such a system would protect the transformer and permit operation of the remainder of the sign even if one or several tube sections become broken, except should the section which is associated with the contrivanoe 31k break, whereupon the entire sign ceases tok operate. The probability, however, of the happening of such contingency becomes less and less, as the number of the tube sections in the entire sign is increased.

Having described my invention, I claim:-

l. In a switching device of the type operable by a high tension current, the combination o-f a tubular fuse case, a switch mounted within the case; said switch having a moveable member adapted upon movement thereof to operate the switch, a fusible element fixed within the case and secured to the moveable member of the switch, an electrode mounted within the case spaced from the fusible element; the fusible element being adapted to be broken intermediate its ends upon passage of a high tension current between the electrode and the fusible element, a flexible member mounted within the case to cause a tension in the fusible element and adapted to shift the moveable member of the switch upon the breaking of the fusible element; said flexible member being in a stressed condition while the fusible element is intact, and metal terminals mounted on the exterior of the case and electrically connected to the switch, the fusible element and to the electrode respectively, whereby the device is adapted to be mounted in a fuse adapter.

2. In a switching device of the type operable by a high tension current, the combination of a tubular fuse case, a switch element fixed within the case, a second switch element movably mounted within the case, adapted in its remote pcsitions to be respectively in and out of contact with the xed switch element, a fusible element fixed within the case and secured to the moveable switch element, adapted to maintain the movable switch element in one of its remote positions, an electrode mounted within the case in spaced relation with the fusible element; the fusible element being adapted to be broken intermediate its ends upon passage of a high tension current between the electrode and the fusible element, a flexible member mounted within the case to cause a tension in the fusible element and adapted to shift the moveable switch element upon the breaking of the fusible element; said flexible member being in a stressed condition while the fusible element is intact, and metal terminals mounted on the exterior of the case and electrically connected to the switch elements, the fuse element and to the electrode respectively, whereby the device is adapted to be mounted in a fuse adapter.

3. In a switching deviceof the type operable by a high tension current, the combination of a tubular fuse case, a switch element fixed to the case, a second switch element moveably mounted within the case, adapted in its remote positions to be respectively in and out of contact with the fixed switch element, a metal cap having a hole therein, removably mounted on an end of the case, a fusible element slidably mounted through the hole in the cap; the interior end of the fusible element being removably secured to the moveable switch element, and its exterior end being removably secured to the cap, whereby the moveable switch element is maintained in one of its remote positions, an electrode mounted within the case spaced from the fusible element; the fusible element being adapted to be broken upon passage of a high tension current between the electrode and the fusibleelement, a flexible member mounted within the case, adapted to shift the moveable switch member upon the breaking of the fusible element; said flexible member being in a stressed condition while the fusible member is intact, and metal terminals mounted on the exterior of the case and electrically connected to the interior components of the device, whereby the device is adapted to be mounted in a fuse adapter.

IRVING I. LEVENSTEIN. 

